How much does it cost to run a rice cooker?
A rice cooker costs about 6.5¢ per hour, 3.2¢ a day, $0.97 a month and $12 a year at typical use (45 minutes a day, 4 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A 5.5-cup rice cooker draws about 500-700 W while cooking for 20-40 minutes, then 30-50 W on keep-warm. Leaving it on warm all day can use more than the cook itself.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep warm | 50 | 0.5¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| Cook (3-5 cup) | 600 | 6.5¢ | 3.2¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Cook (10 cup / IH) | 1,200 | 13¢ | 6.0¢ | $1.82 | $22 |
At 45 minutes a day, 4 days a week and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.23 | 4.1¢ | $1.25 | $15 |
| 2 hours | 0.43 | 7.8¢ | $2.38 | $29 |
| 4 hours | 0.84 | 15¢ | $4.62 | $55 |
| 8 hours | 1.67 | 30¢ | $9.12 | $109 |
| 12 hours | 2.49 | 45¢ | $13.61 | $163 |
| 24 hours | 4.95 | 89¢ | $27.09 | $325 |
Cost to run a rice cooker in every state
The same rice cooker costs $8 a year in North Dakota and $28 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 4.4¢ | $0.67 | $8 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 4.6¢ | $0.68 | $8 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 4.6¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 4.7¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 4.8¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 4.8¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 4.8¢ | $0.73 | $9 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 4.9¢ | $0.73 | $9 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 4.9¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 5.0¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 5.0¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 5.0¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 5.0¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 5.1¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 5.1¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 5.1¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 5.3¢ | $0.80 | $10 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 5.3¢ | $0.80 | $10 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 5.4¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 5.4¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 5.5¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 5.5¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 5.5¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 5.6¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 5.6¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 5.6¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 5.7¢ | $0.86 | $10 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 5.8¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 5.9¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 5.9¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 6.0¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 6.1¢ | $0.92 | $11 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 6.4¢ | $0.96 | $12 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 6.6¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 6.7¢ | $1.01 | $12 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 6.8¢ | $1.02 | $12 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 7.5¢ | $1.12 | $13 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 7.6¢ | $1.14 | $14 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 7.6¢ | $1.14 | $14 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 8.6¢ | $1.29 | $15 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 8.6¢ | $1.29 | $15 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 8.7¢ | $1.31 | $16 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 9.6¢ | $1.44 | $17 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 9.7¢ | $1.45 | $17 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 10¢ | $1.52 | $18 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 10¢ | $1.54 | $18 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 11¢ | $1.58 | $19 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 11¢ | $1.59 | $19 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 11¢ | $1.65 | $20 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 12¢ | $1.79 | $21 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 16¢ | $2.36 | $28 |
How to cut the cost
- Unplug or switch off keep-warm after serving; 12 hours of warm uses about 0.5 kWh.
- Soak rice 20-30 minutes first to shorten the cook cycle.
- Cook full batches and freeze portions.
- Use quick-cook mode for white rice when it's offered.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Cooks a few servings in 12-15 minutes with no keep-warm draw.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice cooker | 600 | 45 minutes a day, 4 days a week | $0.97 | $12 |
| Instant Pot | 1,000 | 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.83 | $10 |
| Slow cooker | 200 | 8 hours a day, 2 days a week | $2.00 | $24 |
| Ninja Foodi multi-cooker | 1,400 | 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $1.36 | $16 |
| Microwave | 1,200 | 15 minutes a day | $1.90 | $23 |
| Food processor | 600 | 6 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.09 | $1 |
| Juicer | 600 | 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.14 | $2 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a rice cooker per hour?
A rice cooker drawing 600 watts uses 0.36 kWh per hour while running (60% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 6.5¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 4.4¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 16¢.
How much does it cost to run a rice cooker per month?
At typical use (45 minutes a day, 4 days a week), a rice cooker costs about $0.97 a month and $12 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a rice cooker use?
Most rice cookers use 40 to 1,200 watts, depending on the setting (keep warm 50 W, cook (3-5 cup) 600 W, cook (10 cup / ih) 1,200 W). Plugged in but off, it still draws about 1 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a rice cooker use?
About 0.18 kWh a day and 65 kWh a year at typical use (45 minutes a day, 4 days a week).
Does a rice cooker use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 65 kWh a year it's a small share (0.6%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a rice cooker or an Instant Pot?
At typical use, a rice cooker costs about $12 a year versus $10 for an Instant Pot. So the Instant Pot is cheaper by about $2 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a rice cooker?
- Unplug or switch off keep-warm after serving; 12 hours of warm uses about 0.5 kWh.
- Soak rice 20-30 minutes first to shorten the cook cycle.
- Cook full batches and freeze portions.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.